Union County Report, 2008

Demographics

In 2008, there were 3,202 licensed drivers in Union County. Of these, there were 1,603 females and 1,599 males. The population of Union County was 3,777. The total number of crashes in 2008 was 103, yielding a crash rate of 27 per thousand people (total number of crashes 103 divided by total population 3,777 times 1,000). The corresponding rate for the state was 23 per thousand people.

General Crash Information

From 2005 to 2008 the number of crashes has shown an upward trend. Fatal and injury crashes have shown a downward trend from 2003 to 2006. Belt usage (as a percentage) has decreased from last year, and belt usage in crashes involving visible and incapacitating injuries has also decreased.

Alcohol-related Crash Information

Information about alcohol-involved crashes is included in all sections of this report. Of the 16 people convicted of DWI in Union County, 81 percent were first-time DWI convictions (number of first convictions 13 divided by the total number of people convicted 16 times 100). The corresponding percent for the state is 68.

Crash Specifics

Crashes involving Overturns was the most common class, accounting for 29 percent of all crashes. Crashes involving Overturns resulted in fatalities. Passenger cars were the vehicle type most often involved in crashes, accounting for 36 percent of all vehicles in crashes. Pickups accounted for 27 percent of vehicles involved in crashes. Together these two vehicle types comprised 61 percent of the vehicles involved in injury crashes. The three most common top contributing factors were Excessive speed, Other and Driver inattention. There were two fatal crashes in 2008. The top contributing factors for the fatal crashes were Excessive speed and Alcohol involvement.

People in Crashes

Overall, males were 62 percent of drivers in crashes. They account for 50 percent of licensed drivers in Union County. One pedestrian was involved in a crash in 2008. In 2008, no 'Teenagers' and one Young Adult were killed in crashes in Union County. Statewide 14 percent of alcohol-involved drivers were under 21; in Union County 0 percent (0 of 3) were under 21.

Note: The 1999 crash file contains 15% fewer crashes than the 1998 file. This may be due to problems implementing the new system after the old system failed, or to under reporting. Care should be used in interpreting differences between 1999 and other years in this report.

Location of arrest/conviction was determined by police agency/court location, not driver residence.

Crashes and drivers were counted by the city of occurrence/residence.

Population was counted according to the Census definition.
The city population data is from the most current 2008 estimates.